Tampa Bay Rays to Play 2025 Season at Steinbrenner Field

The Tampa Bay Rays have announced plans to play their 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees. This decision comes after Hurricane Milton caused extensive damage to their current home, Tropicana Field, which is not expected to be playable until the 2026 season.

Steinbrenner Field, located in Tampa, has a capacity of 11,026 seats and is also the regular season home of the Tampa Tarpons, the Single-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The field underwent a $40 million renovation prior to the 2017 season, which included the addition of 13 suites, club areas, social spaces, and cabana seating. These upgrades make it one of the more suitable spring training facilities to meet MLB regular season and players association standards.

The Rays chose Steinbrenner Field over other options such as Clearwater’s BayCare Ballpark, the spring home of the Philadelphia Phillies, after consultations with Major League Baseball. This decision is seen as a way to bring the game closer to fans in the Tampa area, who have sometimes cited travel time to downtown St. Petersburg as a deterrent.

However, the move may face resistance from some Pinellas County commissioners who had hoped the team would remain in the county by playing in Clearwater or Dunedin. Their support is crucial for the financing of the Rays’ planned $1.3 billion stadium, and they could potentially vote against the necessary bonds.

The scheduling logistics, including potential conflicts with the Tampa Tarpons, are still being worked out. There are 42 dates when both teams would play at home, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated that there could be adjustments to team schedules to accommodate this arrangement.